Squad Structure & Standards from April 2010

At the beginning of April 2010 Newham Swimming Club implemented a set of changes to its squad profiles and standards. The changes mainly affected the old Silver and Bronze Squads but also provide clear targets for promotion up towards NSC’s top squad

All of NSC’s squads were renamed during the changes to better reflect their focus. The new names for the squads are as follows:

“Bronze” renamed “Development Squad”

“Silver” renamed “Intermediate Squad”

“Gold” renamed “Newham Squad”

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NSC SQUAD PROFILES

Below is a brief description of each squad, with their entry requirements. These new standards came into operation in April of 2010, but will be subject to ongoing review.

Standards common to all NSC Squads

  1. All squads will operate a programme of ongoing and regular assessment
  2. Subject to performance, swimmers at all levels of NSC will be selected by their coaches to represent the club in swimming galas. When selected to represent NSC at galas, attendance at those galas will be recorded and will contribute to the regular assessment process.
  3. All swimmers will be expected to own the following items of equipment and to bring them to every training session
    1. suitable swimming costume
    2. short fins
    3. kick board
    4. pullbuoy
    5. 2 pairs of goggles
  4. All swimmers must bring to each training session a suitable drink, as directed by the coach
  5. Toilet breaks are built into training but swimmers are expected to use the toilet before the start of each session to minimize disruption to training

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Development Squad

Lead Coach for Development Squad and Deputy Head Coach: Richard Gordon

Development Squad is the entry point into competitive swimming at NSC for interested swimmers who have completed the Learn to Swim programme up to and including Stage 7 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS).

In this squad swimmers will continue to improve on skills acquired in Learn to Swim programmes and will develop competitive skills such as starts and turns.


Entry requirements:

Successful completion of a minimum of Stage 7 of the NPTS, or recommendation by a school or a GLL swimming teacher on completion of Stage 8

Successful completion of an trial with Newham Swimming Club

Weekly commitment: up to 3 hours per week


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Intermediate Squad

Lead Coach: Ainsley Morgan

NSC’s Intermediate squad is made up of swimmers who have learned the basics of good competitive swimming at the Development Squad level either with NSC or another club. Coaching within this squad builds on Development Squad achievements by working on swimmers’ technique, speed and stamina


Entry Requirements:

  1. Consistent attendance at Development Squad training sessions, or the equivalent level at another club
  2. Understanding of lane etiquette
  3. Understanding of how to use the pace clock
  4. Successful completion of ASA Preliminary Start Award
  5. Ability to perform all four strokes to the expected technical standard
  6. Ability to execute correct turns on all four strokes
  7. Ability to swim 2 X 100m front crawl, back crawl, and breast stroke with correct start, turns and finish
  8. Ability to swim 2X 50m butterfly with correct start, turn and finish
  9. Ability to swim a 100m individual medley with correct start, turns and finish
  10. Ability to execute correct technical drills and kick sets as instructed by the Coach
  11. Possession and correct use of required training equipment

Weekly commitment: minimum 4-5 hours per week

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Newham Squad

Lead Coach for Newham Squad and Head Coach : John Harvey

Newham Squad swimmers are technically competent in all strokes and are expected to train regularly with the correct equipment and attend league and open galas on a regular basis.

Newham Squad swimmers are also expected to perform test sets and train towards regional, county and national qualifying times at all distances on at least two strokes

Entry requirements:

  1. Consistent attendance at Intermediate Squad training sessions, or the equivalent level at another club
  2. Completion of ASA Competitive Start Award
  3. Ability to swim 10 x 100M front crawl s/r 1.50
  4. Ability to swim 6 x 100M backstroke s/r 2.10
  5. Ability to swim 6 x 100M breast stroke s/r 2.15
  6. Ability to swim 4 x 100M butterfly s/r 2.15
  7. Ability to swim 4 x 100M individual medley s/r 2.15
  8. Ability to swim 2 x 200M individual medley s/r 4.00
  9. Ability to swim 8 x 50M front crawl kick s/r 1.15

Weekly commitment: Minimum 6 hours per week